The Ultimate Starting Point Watch Gifts

Any of these are the perfect kickoff for a collection

As a watch specialist, I am often asked what I think is the best watch, which is impossible to answer because there are so many amazing watches on the market. There are so many factors: style, price, expected use, material, features and more.

A watch is the ultimate gift. Any of these are the perfect kickoff for a collection.

Bell & Ross Burning Skull Tattoo is inspired by the world of aviation, and its signature case is based on aircraft gauges. Combine this aesthetic with the skull motif, so popular with the military, and you have an instant winner. $7,700

From the world’s most popular name in watches to one that very few have heard about, GoS from Sweden, this brand specializes in the use of Damascus steel, which makes the dial of the Sarek unique amongst all watches on the market. $7,800

Water resistant to 300 meters, this is a real sports watch, built to take just about anything
you can throw at it, but it’s also feminine
and beautiful. $3,750

Designed specifically for women, this watch showcases high watchmaking.
$38,900

You might think Rolex is an uninspired choice, but the truth is that you can’t go wrong with any reference in the brand’s collection. I particularly like the look of the new Air-King—it has a vintage look, and it’s not as omnipresent as the Daytona or Submariner. $6,200

Seiko recently introduced the Grand Seiko collection into the USA, which had been reserved for the Japanese market. Impeccable watchmaking combined with the brand’s ground-breaking Spring Drive movement makes this watch a must have. $55,000

Sure, the single hand takes some getting used to, but it’s worth the investment because wearing this watch signals a sea change in your approach to time. Suddenly, the exact time doesn’t matter that much anymore. $4,475

Priced at more than half-a-million dollars, the Astronomia is a solar system on your wrist, spinning constantly. This timepiece has been on my wish list since it was introduced. I keep playing
the lottery…540,000 CHF

Perhaps the most elegant time-only watch on the market, and the red gold bezel really pops on the black case. $10,600

This small brand makes some incredible watches, and the Memoris dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the invention of the chronograph could be the most incredible one of all. Pictured here is the Memoris Red Eclipse, $99,900

When you are traveling, time matters more
than just about anything, and the best way
to keep track of it is the iconic world time
from Patek. $47,630